The Best Original Netflix Shows of 2023

Looking back on the year of television, streaming giant Netflix certainly contributed to several stand-out moments of 2023’s peak TV. Not only did the streamer expand on its already adored franchises, with the new U.K.-set season of “You,” the “Bridgerton” spinoff “Queen Charlotte” and the return of the Flanaverse with a meditation on mortality in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” but several exciting new breakout hits lured subscribers as well.

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There was the total reimagining of the cult classic “Scott Pilgrim” into a nostalgia-baiting triumph of an anime series titled “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” surprise hit “The Diplomat” that was both parts ridiculous and self-serious in a way that transforms it into a must-watch creation and “Beef,” the intense drama that charmed many critics after its debut.

Blessings were also bestowed upon the Tim Robinson fandom with another season of “I Think You Should Leave.” The Emmy-nominated skit series brought “Drive-Thru Pay It Forward” and “Doggy Door” to 2023 (see the official ranking of the best ITYSL sketches here).

There was also “Break Point,” the docu-series that followed the lives of relatively new tennis champions as they set out to win match after match on the road. The candid conversation from the athletes paired with the stunning shots from the court would make any tennis newbie a fan.

There was plenty to stream this year, and just in case you missed it, Variety has curated the best of the best Netflix shows of 2023 from “Blue Eye Samurai” to “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal.”

Beef

It all starts with a road rage incident. Funny, enticing and completely bizarre, Lee Sung Jin’s “Beef” perfectly balances humor and emotion while exploring the human condition, generational trauma, anger and class divisions. From the sharp writing and staging to the wardrobes and soundtrack (using Hoobastank’s “The Reason” at the end of the first episode is pure genius), this dark comedy miniseries is filled with compelling three-dimensional characters and effective twists and turns. Above all, it’s the electrifying chemistry between Ali Wong and Steven Yeun that makes it one of the best shows of the year. — MZ

Blue Eye Samurai

A collaboration between the husband-wife team Michael Green (“Logan,” “Blade Runner 2049”) and Amber Noizumi, “Blue Eye Samurai” is the animated saga of Mizu (Maya Erskine), a mixed-race warrior hellbent on revenge in 17th-century Japan. There’s a cross-dressing heroine and jaw-dropping visuals, many highlighting the natural beauty of the island nation in deep winter and early spring. But there’s also brutal, precisely choreographed violence and, more surprisingly, sex. Ahead of the premiere of “Shogun” early next year — and at some point, “Blue Eye Samurai” Season 2 — get yourself in the mood with one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. — AH 

Break Point

Those interested in professional tennis’ aftermath following the historic careers from Serena Williams to Roger Federer could do worse than binging this cleverly edited, incisive series. Intended as a primer, both to the game itself and some of its most compelling rising stars, the show functions as a sort of pro-tennis-tour Red Zone, distilling years’ worth of tournament play into compelling moments and great storylines. Sharing a production company with Netflix’s “Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” “Break Point” has a similarly propulsive approach to sports, rooting viewers in the human drama while reminding us at every turn of the pleasures and pains of competition. — DD 

The Diplomat

Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell are experienced globe-trotting civil servants in this popular series that’s due to get a second season. Though they still have a strong attraction to each other, the sparring couple is on the verge of separating when Russell’s lead is named ambassador to the U.K. But it’s Sewell’s character who is often pulling the strings in her dealings with foreign governments, even though he’s ostensibly taking a break from his career to be a supportive husband. With glossy British locations, sizzling illicit romances and snappy repartee, it hardly matters that the plot about an attack on a British aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf is a bit of an afterthought. — PS 

The Fall of the House of Usher

Horror auteur Mike Flanagan’s most recent outing with Netflix is a twisted family drama with the flair of Edgar Allen Poe. Money and power tend to prop people up despite any monstrosities or misdeeds they’ve committed. However, “The Fall of the House of Usher” centers on the end of a family’s bloodline as each member meets a grisly end. It’s a series about legacy, what people do to remain in the coveted 1% and a reminder that, in the end, someone will always have to pay the tab when it comes due. — AT 

Ginny & Georgia

Season 2 of the YA drama dove deeper into its central mother-daughter (Brianne Howey and Antonia Gentry) relationship, while mixing in some murder and romance for both. The strongest part of the sophomore season was the closer examination of teens struggling with mental health. Not only did it complicate Ginny’s struggles, but it also had a generous approach to other characters, offering a rare look at a 16-year-old boy (Felix Mallard) who shut out his friends, girlfriend and family while suffering from depression, as well as two young women struggling with eating disorders. — EL 

Heartstopper

When it comes to YA romance dramas, Alice Oseman’s British series “Heartstopper” knocks it out of the park. The gorgeously done production follows Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), a shy, bullied teen, who falls for Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), the captain of the school’s ruby team. Season 1 follows the boys’ blossoming friendship. But in Season 2, the pair takes things to the next level, allowing the audience to fall in love right along with them. The current season also looks beyond Nick and Charlie to their tight-knit friend group, who all have their own unique coming-of-age experiences. — AT 

High on the Hog

Food writer Stephen Satterfield and food historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris have returned for an expansive second season of the docuseries “High on the Hog.” This series traces the origins of African American cuisine and its importance in Black culture and the nation’s history. In Season 2, Statterfeield and Dr. Harris explore the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance, Creole culture and the Civil Rights Movement through major food meccas like Chicago, New Orleans and Atlanta. Through dishes like gumbo, black-eyed peas and chicken and waffles, the duo explore significant historical moments and figures across time. — AT 

I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson

The third season of Tim Robinson’s deliciously unhinged sketch show is as strange and specific as ever. Mileage may vary per segment, but some demented crowd-pleasers include a desperate man trying to hustle a “pay-it-forward” chain at a fast-food restaurant; a dating show contestant far more interested in a zip line than the competition; a rideshare driver with an unbeatable gimmick; and a dog door commercial from hell. And while it’s a treat to see funny friends like Will Forte, Ayo Edebiri and Patti Harrison on his wavelength, Robinson consistently steals the show with his off-kilter delivery. — WE 

The Lincoln Lawyer

The charismatic Manuel Garcia-Rulfo returned for a second season as Mickey Haller, “The Lincoln Lawyer,” and quickly got entangled in a murder case where he happened to hit it off with one of the suspects. The burgeoning – and unethical – romance added sizzle to the season, while subplots involving his daughter, ex-wives and investigator kept the action rolling along. Existing in a parallel universe to Amazon’s “Bosch,” the story of Bosch’s attorney half-brother continues to provide a solidly engrossing entry in the canon of L.A.-set crime shows. — PS

Lockwood & Co.

With little promotional push behind it ahead of its January premiere, the delightful “Lockwood & Co.” ended up being one-and-done. That’s an absolute pity, because the supernatural YA thriller — based on books by Jonathan Stroud, and developed by “Attack the Block” director Joe Cornish — had assembled an utterly charming ensemble of young ghostbusters. Ruby Stokes (formerly Francesca on “Bridgerton”), Cameron Chapman and Ali Hadji-Heshmati led the series, playing characters who hunt ghouls professionally in an always-foggy London overrun with them. Well-acted, atmospheric, inventive and creepy, “Lockwood & Co.” effectively set up a world ripe for more seasons. Oh well, I guess? At least Season 1 resolves nicely. — KA 

Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal

Earlier this year, former lawyer Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of murdering his wife, Maggie, and youngest son, Paul. However, there is much more to the Murdaugh family than what occurred on that gruesome night in 2021. The first season of “Murdaugh Murders” explores the family through the reckless behavior of Paul, including excessive drinking and the death of another young woman. As details from the horrific boating accident came to light, it became clear that the Murdaughs were notorious for covering up their illegal activities and poor behavior. The series also explores the fallout of the accident and what may have led Alex to murder his own family. The second season focuses on Maggie and Paul’s deaths, told through the eyes of those closest to the family, as well as Alex’s trial and conviction. — AT 

The Night Agent

This action thriller series quickly became one of Netflix’s most popular shows of the year, no doubt due to its pulse-pounding suspense. Gabriel Basso plays Peter Sutherland, an FBI agent with a quiet job manning the nighttime emergency phone at the White House that almost never rings – until one night when it does. Rose Larkin, played by Luciane Buchanan, is a young entrepreneur who has no idea why her very ordinary aunt and uncle were just assassinated in a high-level operation. The two go on the run to track down the killers and try not to get killed themselves as political corruption unravels and a fair number of criminals get blown away. — PS 

Perfect Match

A “Love Island” / “Bachelor in Paradise”-esque riff on Netflix’s stable of reality shows, “Perfect Match” mixes hard-bodied contestants from series such as “Love is Blind,” “Too Hot to Handle” and “The Mole” to see what bizarre pairings develop. The Panama-based villa gives a perfect sun-drenched backdrop to the show’s pleasant sludge, which tasted great during the doldrums of February. The contestants seem primed to start shit, with lots of backstabbing and constant twists for genre fans: Mitchell says he’s a virgin… but he might not be! Ines is getting dumped by everyone… despite being the coolest girl there! Francesca is matching with men… and women! Don’t feel guilty, just indulge. — WE 

Queen Charlotte

In a year without “Bridgerton,” Netflix and Shonda Rhimes gave fans a spinoff even more spectacular and romantic. “Queen Charlotte” follows the early years of the reigning monarch Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio) after being uprooted from her life in Germany to marry King George III (Cory Mylchreest), sight unseen. Though their romance blossoms unexpectedly, the monarch soon finds herself coping with George’s mental illness, learning her place in a new world and transforming into the woman fans have come to revere in the original series. It was also fun to glimpse at younger Lady Danbury (Arsema Thomas), a woman who learned to forge her own fate. — AT 

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

If you’ve only watched the first 20 minutes of “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” you may be wondering why it’s on this list. It’s essentially a one-to-one remake of the 2010 movie, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” with the same cast until the very end when (spoilers!) Scott seemingly dies in his first fight with Matthew Patel, Ramona’s first evil ex. It was a twist that nobody saw coming, and it paved the way for “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” to dramatically depart from the story that fans of the movie and graphic novel have known for years. The Netflix series spends much more quality time with Ramona, her exes and the supporting cast that was sidelined in the original story. The animation style is ripped right from the pages of the comic and the fight scenes are “John Wick”-worthy, making this a treat for longtime fans and newcomers. – JM

Wrestlers

Greg Whiteley’s seven-part docuseries examines the down-and-out athletes of Ohio Valley Wrestling. Led by former WWE (when it was WWF) star Al Snow, “Wrestlers” has everything: Charismatic lead characters you can root for, a fascinating milieu in its Lexington, Ky. setting and real stakes for the story (will the financially challenged OVW survive?!?). Whiteley, the documentarian also behind Netflix’s “Cheer” and “Last Chance U,” has  an eye for underdogs; as a director, his superpower is the nuance he brings to his subjects. — KA 

XO Kitty

Fans of the Netflix film trilogy “To All The Boys I Loved Before” know Katherine Song Covey (Anna Cathcart) as Laura Jean’s meddling little sister. But in “XO, Kitty,” the spunky teen gets her turn in the spotlight. Determined to follow in her late mother’s footsteps and close the distance between herself and her long-distance beau, Dae (Choi Min-yeong), Kitty moves halfway across the world to attend the  Korean Independent School of Seoul. However, being away from her loved ones takes much more out of her than she expected. A fun teen dramedy with a tinge of mystery, the series is deeply feminist, reflective and thoughtful, working within a genre that can often smooth over the intricacies of being a young adult. — AT 

You

This series just got crazier and crazier with the fourth season, as Penn Badgley’s Joe headed to London to start over – again — with a new identity. He encounters a new killer — or so he thinks — and the ending is, well, quite unexpected and somehow, even twistier than the past three seasons’. The fourth season left him and Kate (Charlotte Ritchie) — who knows he’s a killer — living back in New York, vowing to keep each other good. Little does she know, Joe has a new villain living inside his head. The thriller will be returning for a fifth and final season. — EL 

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